Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 17 May 2022
81. Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will engage with TUS and RSS around expanding and improving the service as well as addressing outstanding pay and condition claims by the sector; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24653/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraTús is a community work placement initiative aimed at providing short-term, quality work opportunities for those who are unemployed for more than a year. The scheme aims to improve the employability and work readiness of participants, by providing them with the opportunities to put work skills into practice and learn new skills enabling progression to work, further education or skill development.
The Rural Social Scheme (RSS) is an income support initiative that provides part-time employment opportunities in community and voluntary organisations for farmers or fishermen who are in receipt of certain social welfare payments and who are underemployed in their primary occupation.
Both schemes are funded by the Department of Social Protection and are delivered through the national network of Local Development Companies and Údarás na Gaeltachta in Gaeltacht areas. These are collectively known as implementing bodies (IBs).
I have been hugely impressed by the range and value of the work undertaken on these schemes, many of which I have had the opportunity to visit and witness first hand. I and my Department interact regularly with schemes at ground level and at national level. I am happy to engage with Tús and RSS schemes on ideas to support participants, deliver on the aims of schemes while improving services to support local service provision by the community, voluntary and not-for-profit organisations. Reforms introduced to RSS and Community Employment schemes by Minister Humphreys and I last December, as well as the support provided to all schemes during the pandemic are examples of how Government supports schemes.
My officials met with union representatives of RSS and Tús supervisors along with a number of supervisors on the of 6th April last and discussed a number of issues, including cross cutting human resource policy issues. However, as you will appreciate the Department is not the employer of supervisors and they are not public servants. At this meeting the review of the RSS scheme was also discussed and my officials made it clear that this review will include consultation with scheme representatives to ensure the views of those working on the ground on schemes, along with those of other stakeholders, informs the review.
Last year Minister Humphreys and I introduced the Employment Support Services Operation Forum where we, along with Department officials, meet representatives from all schemes. This now meets three to four times a year. The meetings afford scheme representatives an opportunity to raise current issues relating to their schemes and both Minster Humphreys and I find the meetings to be extremely informative and very worthwhile opportunity for constructive exchanges of views and ideas with schemes.
